Massachusetts eyes lofty electric car goal

Friday

Jan 6, 2017 at 3:14 PMJan 6, 2017 at 3:29 PM

Over the next eight years, Massachusetts energy officials hope to see the number of electric vehicles on Bay State roads swell from 8,000 to 300,000, a goal that is supported by various programs and initiatives.

Gerry Tuoti Wicked Local Newsbank Editor

Over the next eight years, Massachusetts energy officials hope to see the number of electric vehicles on Bay State roads swell from 8,000 to 300,000, a goal that is supported by various programs and initiatives.

“We expect to see rapid year-over-year growth,” said Judith Judson, commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources. “You can compare it to the solar industry. You can expect electric vehicles will see that same type of growth.”

Weeks after Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration committed $12 million in new funding to an electric vehicle rebate program, Massachusetts lawmakers passed a bill to help lay the infrastructure groundwork to support future widespread adoption of zero-emissions cars.

The bill, which was passed late Jan. 3, the last day of the 2016 legislative session, prohibits vehicle charging stations from imposing subscription fees on drivers and allows for an update to the state building code that would require new homes and businesses to be pre-wired for electric vehicle charging. The bill also gives communities the authority to establish electric-vehicle-only parking spaces and authorizes electric utilities to submit proposals to build publicly accessible charging stations.

There are currently more than 450 public or semi-public electric vehicle charging stations in Massachusetts.

“By making electric vehicle charging and parking more convenient for Massachusetts residents, this bill is a key stop on the roadmap to clean transportation,” said Emily Norton, Massachusetts director for the Sierra Club. “With oil from the transportation sector responsible for nearly 40 percent of the Commonwealth’s climate-disrupting pollution, it is imperative that we speed up the transition to clean electric vehicles.”

Judson declined to comment on specific provisions of the bill, which is awaiting action by Baker.

“Currently, the bill is still under consideration by the governor, but clearly this administration is working on many initiatives to grow the use of electric vehicles,” she said. “Stay tuned.”

Massachusetts runs a rebate program, MOR-EV, which provides rebates of up to $2,500 to people who purchase or lease an electric vehicle. That’s in addition to federal tax rebates of up to $7,500. Prices on electric vehicles vary widely depending on the model, with many available for between $30,000 and $35,000. Luxury electric vehicles may cost more than $80,000.

Since its launch in June 2014, MOR-EV has provided a combined $6.6 million in rebates to more than 3,100 customers. The rebates are financed by carbon allowance auction proceeds from the multi-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

In 2015, Massachusetts launched Mass Drive Clean, a pilot program that offers electric vehicle test drives at employer-sponsored and public events. The goal of the program is to increase people’s exposure to electric vehicles. To date, it’s reached more than 1,000 Massachusetts drivers. More than 80 percent of participating drivers said their opinions of electric vehicles improved after a test drive, and 68 percent said they were more likely to purchase an electric vehicle after getting to drive one.

“We must be mindful of our greenhouse gas emissions, especially those emitted by our transportation sector,” said state Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, a co-sponsor of the recent electric vehicle bill. “We need to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels and make it easier for owners of electric cars to use their vehicles while incentivizing the transition to zero-emission transportation.”

Much of the energy in New England is produced at power plants that burn natural gas, but Massachusetts policymakers are embracing renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. High-emissions sources such as coal have largely been phased out in the region.

Widespread electric vehicle adoption would create new demands on the power grid, since the vehicles would need to be plugged in to charge. But Judson said she’s confident the system will be able to handle emerging technologies.

Electric vehicles, she added, also hold the potential to expand energy storage capabilities.

As part of a five-year pilot program announced in May, Cambridge, Concord, Acton-Boxboro and Amherst will test electric school buses. When not in use, the buses could be plugged in to not only charge, but also provide a source of backup power, Judson said. In November, Concord became the first school district in New England to acquire a full-size electric bus.

“Our goal and our mission at DOER is to create a clean, resilient energy future in the commonwealth,” Judson said. “We’re planning for a future and ensuring the grid can handle new additions to our system, such as the installation of more solar projects and an increase in the number of electric vehicles.”